Tiny Puffer Question

[beautifulfish]

I have seen these cute little puffers at Petsmart. I was wondering if they would do well in a 29 gallo tank with 1 blue gourami, 2 mollies, 2 mickey mouse platys. I don't remember the name of the little things but the were about 1/2 in. long and greenish/brown. I didn't know if they would go well or not. I also have 6 gal. tank with 2 guppies and 1 ADF. Would it be ok in there? Also what do they eat? Flake food?

 

[Holly9937]

I don't know much about puffers, but I believe almost all need their own tank, not with other tank mates. But we would need to know the exact type to say for sure. Once you get the name you should be able to look them up in the species profile. Or do a search for puffers and see if you can't find a pic of the one you saw to get a positive ID

 

[cohazard]

I don't know much about puffers, but I believe almost all need their own tank, not with other tank mates. But we would need to know the exact type to say for sure. Once you get the name you should be able to look them up in the species profile. Or do a search for puffers and see if you can't find a pic of the one you saw to get a positive ID

I agree with Holly. All puffers do best in a species only tank. No puffers eat flake food. They need live (i.e. snails, shrimp, crabs, depends on the size and type of puffer) and frozen foods.

Most puffers also need crunchy shells in their diets via live or frozen foods, that will wear down their teeth. Otherwise their teeth will grow too large and they won't be able to feed. Then they'll starve to death.

My guess is that you encountered dwarf puffers at Petsmart. Check out dwarfpuffers.com and let us know if that's what you saw.

HTH

 

[Puffernewbee]

Dwarf puffers are pretty much a species only tank. Though they are tiny, they can be quite aggresive. They will quickly start dining on the fins of the other fish in the tank with them. Some people have them in community tanks but they have the odd friendly puffer. If you want to get them, you could probably put them into the 6 gallon and move thos residents to the 29 gallon. I am not sure about the dwarf frog though in the 29.

 

[zave2340]

THIS APPLIES TO ALL PUFFERS


Puffers are Cutie, Cuddly, Look nice, Very nice to keep.

BUT​

Puffers will KILL everything that can fit in its mouth. Also, if a bigger fish eats teh puffer, the puffer will give of a toxin killing that fish and possibily others. PLEASE do not get a puffer unless you give it its own tank. even puffers shoudl not be kept with puffers unless the tank is large.

Good luck

Pet Smart puffers are Dwaf Puffers. "Smitti" on this forum has one, Msg Her

 

[windeindoiel]

They were probably dwarf puffers. I've heard of success with otos, and I keep mine with shrimp. 3 gallons/puff puff. They eat blood worms. And other frozen food you find they like will be fine too. Mine refuse to touch mysis shrimp though. I keep 4 in a 20 gal and it is awesome, they are very cool.

But keep in mind, you can only get that very cool effect with any fish when you keep it correctly.